- published: 25 May 2013
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Eleanor of Aquitaine (French: Aliénor d’Aquitaine; Éléonore de Guyenne) (1122 or 1124 – 1 April 1204) was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. As well as being Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, she was queen consort of France (1137–1152) and of England (1154–1189). She was the patroness of such literary figures as Wace, Benoît de Sainte-Maure, and Bernart de Ventadorn.
Eleanor succeeded her father as Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Poitiers at the age of fifteen, becoming the most eligible bride in Europe. Three months after her accession, she married Louis VII, son of her guardian, King Louis The Fat. As Queen of France, she participated in the unsuccessful Second Crusade. Soon after the Crusade, Eleanor sought an annulment of her marriage but was rejected by Pope Eugene III. However, after the birth of Alix, another daughter, Louis agreed to an annulment. The marriage was annulled on 11 March 1152, on the grounds of consanguinity within the fourth degree. Their daughters were declared legitimate and custody was awarded to Louis, while Eleanor's lands were restored to her.
Aquitaine (French pronunciation: [a.ki.tɛn], English /ˌækwɪˈteɪn/; Occitan: Aquitània; Basque: Akitania), archaic Guyenne/Guienne (Occitan: Guiana), is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It is composed of the 5 departments of Dordogne, Lot et Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes and Gironde. In the Middle Ages Aquitaine was a kingdom and a duchy, whose boundaries fluctuated considerably.
There are traces of human settlement by prehistoric peoples, especially in the Périgord, but the earliest attested inhabitants in the south-west were the Aquitani, who were not proper Celtic people, but more akin to the Iberians (see Gallia Aquitania). Although a number of different languages and dialects were in use in the area during ancient times, it is most likely that the prevailing language of Aquitaine during the late pre-historic to Roman period was an early form of the Basque language. This has been demonstrated by various Aquitanian names and words that were recorded by the Romans, and which are currently easily readable as Basque. Whether this Aquitanian language (Proto-Basque) was a remnant of a Vasconic language group that once extended much farther, or whether it was generally limited to the Aquitaine/Basque region is not currently known. One reason the language of Aquitaine is important is because Basque is the last surviving non-Indo-European language in western Europe and it has had some effect on the languages around it, including Spanish and, to a lesser extent, French.
The Lion in Winter is a 1966 play by James Goldman, depicting the personal and political conflicts of Henry II of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their children and their guests during Christmas, 1183. It premiered on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on 3 March 1966, starring Robert Preston and Rosemary Harris, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Eleanor. It was adapted by Goldman into an Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, starring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn. The play has been produced numerous times, including Broadway and West End revivals.
Set during Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England's castle in Chinon, Anjou, Angevin Empire, the play opens with the arrival of Henry's wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom he has had imprisoned since 1173. The story concerns the gamesmanship between Henry, Eleanor, their three surviving sons Richard, Geoffrey, and John, their guest, Philip II of France (the son of Eleanor's ex-husband, Louis VII of France). Also involved is Philip's half-sister Alais, who has been at court since she was betrothed to Richard at age eight, but has since become Henry's mistress.
Actors: Mark Strong (actor), James Payton (actor), Danny Huston (actor), João Costa Menezes (actor), Robert Pugh (actor), Max von Sydow (actor), Ned Dennehy (actor), Ray Donn (actor), Lasco Atkins (actor), Russell Crowe (actor), Lee Nicholas Harris (actor), Gerard McSorley (actor), William Hurt (actor), Cate Blanchett (actress), Eileen Atkins (actress),
Plot: Birth of a legend. Following King Richard's death in France, archer Robin Longstride, along with Will Scarlett, Alan-a-Dale and Little John, returns to England. They encounter the dying Robert of Locksley, whose party was ambushed by treacherous Godfrey, who hopes to facilitate a French invasion of England. Robin promises the dying knight he will return his sword to his father Walter in Nottingham. Here Walter encourages him to impersonate the dead man to prevent his land being confiscated by the crown, and he finds himself with Marian, a ready-made wife. Hoping to stir baronial opposition to weak King John and allow an easy French take-over, Godfrey worms his way into the king's service as Earl Marshal of England and brutally invades towns under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes. Can Robin navigate the politics of barons, royals, traitors, and the French?
Keywords: 1190s, 12th-century, action-hero, adventure-hero, ambush, archer, army, arrow-through-neck, assuming-identity-of-a-dead-person, attacking-a-blind-manActors: Patrick Stewart (actor), Jean Bourne (miscellaneous crew), Andrey Konchalovskiy (director), Patrick Stewart (producer), Richard Hartley (composer), Béla Vaszary (miscellaneous crew), Consolata Boyle (costume designer), Glenn Close (actress), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (actor), Robert Halmi Jr. (producer), Robert Halmi Sr. (producer), Andrew Howard (actor), Henry Richardson (editor), Peter Hric (miscellaneous crew), Rafe Spall (actor),
Plot: King Henry II ('Patrick Stewart (I)' (qv)) keeps his wife, Eleanor ('Glenn Close' (qv)) locked away in the towers because of her frequent attempts to overthrow him. With Eleanor out of the way he can have his dalliances with his young mistress ('Yuliya Vysotskaya' (qv)). Needless to say the queen is not pleased, although she still has affection for the king. Working through her sons, she plots the king's demise and the rise of her second and preferred son, Richard ('Andrew Howard (I)' (qv)), to the throne. The youngest son, John ('Rafe Spall' (qv)), an overweight buffoon and the only son holding his father's affection is the king's choice after the death of his first son, young Henry. But John is also overly eager for power and is willing to plot his father's demise with middle brother, Geoffrey ('John Light (I)' (qv)) and the young king of France, Phillip ('Jonathan Rhys Meyers' (qv)). Geoffrey, of course sees his younger brother's weakness and sees that route as his path to power. Obviously political and court intrigue ensues.
Keywords: 12th-century, adultery, animal-in-title, arrest, based-on-play, battle, battlefield, boyfriend-girlfriend-relationship, british-royal-family, brother-brother-relationshipActors: Morgan Fairchild (actress), George Segal (actor), William Morgan Sheppard (actor), Derek Lyons (actor), Roger Ashton-Griffiths (actor), Steve Dent (actor), Roddy McDowall (actor), Harry Fielder (actor), Kenneth Griffith (actor), Roy Kinnear (actor), Tom Baker (actor), Robert Hardy (actor), Michael Hordern (actor), Freddie Jones (actor), Marianne Stone (actress),
Genres: Comedy,Actors: Peter O'Toole (actor), Katharine Hepburn (actress), Pamela Carlton (miscellaneous crew), Joseph E. Levine (producer), John Bloom (editor), Timothy Dalton (actor), John Barry (composer), Kenneth Griffith (actor), Anthony Hopkins (actor), Joseph E. Levine (miscellaneous crew), Nigel Stock (actor), John Castle (actor), O.Z. Whitehead (actor), Nigel Terry (actor), Anthony Harvey (director),
Plot: Christmas 1183--an aging and conniving King Henry II plans a reunion where he hopes to name his successor. He summons the following people for the holiday: his scheming but imprisoned wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; his mistress, Princess Alais, whom he wishes to marry; his three sons (Richard, Geoffrey, and John), all of whom desire the throne; and the young but crafty King Philip of France (who is also Alais' brother). With the fate of Henry's empire at stake, everybody engages in their own brand of deception and treachery to stake their claim.
Keywords: 12th-century, adultery, animal-in-title, aristocrat, army, based-on-play, battle-of-the-sexes, beach, british-history, british-royal-family